Little Falls transcript., 1887-03-11
THE TALE OF A TELEGRAM.

Maud Estabrook had just turned to
. retrace her steps up the avenue, when,
glancing round, she saw a young man
emerging from the shadow of one of the
great willows that guarded the gate.
As he pulled off his hat with a low
bow, the sunlight brought out the
FURNISHED black OF his close-cut hair,
and threw into stronger relief his
bronzed, handsome face, to which a
slight scar on one cheek gave touch
OF the romantic and picturesque, So
thought Maud, after her brief, com.
prehensiye survey. -.
II beg your pardon" said the
stranger. tanning himself with his
straw hat as he spoke, "but can you
tell me if Mr.. Estabrook is here?
"O," thought Maud, zone OF Tom s
friends" Then, aloud, "Yes-that is,
he lives here, but he is not at home
to-day"
As the newcomer stood irresolute,
Maud gave him another quick look,
summed up his whole appearance.
from his six feet of stature and the
light pedestrian garb that set it off to
the knapsack hanging over his broad
shoulders. Then she said hesitatingly:
"Ele may be back tonight, per-
haps. Won't you come up to the
house and rest? It is so warm! And
my mother will be glad to see any,
friend of Tom's."
The young man returned her inuuir-
ing glance as he answered, also with
some hesitation: Thanks. 1t is
very warm, certainly. | should be
delighted to pay my respects to Mrs.
Estabrook, if she will permit me-"
With that he put on his hat again;
and the two walked along together,
under the blossoming acacia trees,
while he introduced himself as Mars
ton Folliott, just now pedestrianiz-
ing in that region. TO which she re.
sponded with the information that
she was Toms sister,"
In this way they reached the house,
where Mrs. EstabrOok was discovered
in the cool north parlor. She receiv-
ed her sons friend very Hospitality,
inviting him to await Toms return,
which was expected by the next
morning at latest.
Mr.. Folliotte's manner was again
hesitating, as he half glanced toward
Maud. II really ought not to take
advantage" he began.
But Mrs. Estabrook, a nervous, ex-
citable woman, given to starts and
broken sentences, interrupted him:
mo, no! Pray don't say so.
Really it would relieve my
mind, now that my son is away; and
OF course Peter must choose this very
time-Maud, Peter hasn't come back
yet! No, not man on the place, and
this is such q solitary neighborhood!
Burglars and tramps would have US
quite at their mercy"
SO the young man accepted the ur-
gent invitation, and the afternoon
wore away pleasantly, with music and
conversation, and strollmg about the
. grounds.
1t was almost tea-time. The two
ladies with their guest were sitting on
the breezy piazza when a telegram
messenger came up the steps. delivered
his yellow-covered missive, and was
of again like a shot out of sight.
From Tom, probably" said Mrs.
Estabrook. "Mr. Folliott, you will
excuse me!''
She broke open the envelope, while
the conversation between tho two
young people went OF. But it was
suddenly INTERRUPTED hy an inartic-
ulate sound from, Mrs. Estabrook,
and, looking around, they saw her
white and trembling. Maud ran to
her mother and put her arm around
her.
I'll hope you have received no bad
news began MIR. Folliott. But as
no advanced Mrs. Estabrook waved
him back with q poor attempt at
smile
80, no, not bad at all-only little
"a little-unexpected." Then she
conveyed q silent summons to Maud's
anxious eye, adding with the same
forced lightness: ''1i you will excuse
our leaving you alone for moment,
Mr.. Folliott, have little house
hold matter to arrange with my
daughter. That is all indeed. 1t is
only for a moment-only moment I
assure YOU"
AS they withdrew she sedulously re-
turned Mr.. Folliott's bow, all the
while preserving set smile strangely
at variance with her pale face. But
no sooner had they entered the house
than it dropped away, as she turned
to her daughter and said, in hollow
whisper:
MAUD, that man is burglar''
Maud stared at this startling an
nouncement.
"What man, mammal"
'"IhAt man out there--that Fol
lott, as he calls himself. He isn't
friend OF TOMS. Just read this
from Amelia"
Maud took the telegram, which was
from her married sister, living some
fifty miles distant. This was what it
contained.
"Have just learned from nursemaid
OF suspicious stranger making her ac-
9uaintance. Asking all about The
Willows and number Of inmates.
Seemed to know something of Tom.
Tall, dark, gentlemanly-Iooking, and
has scar on one cheek. Look out
for him" %.>~.r.s #}s
! HAS scar on one cheek!' echoed
Maud, family, after an instant's blank
silence. .. le...z
20, Maud, what shall wedo" moan
ed Mrs. Estabrook, sinking back into
u seat. "And we have actually in
ylted him to tea-a burglar! Well,
! for friend, thought he seemed very
] uncertain about Tom.
II noticed that, too," answered
Maud, with bent brow, recalling 9 cer-
tain nnreadinpaa ~ knr,o = n6 m amman
which had struck her as strange At
the time. Mamma" shs continued,
! eve must send Bridget Of Maggie over